Bomb control mechanism



Nov. 28, 1944. l E. SCHMUED BOMB CONTROL MEGHANISM Filed Sept. 18. 193914 Sheets-Sheet l m3 NQ 3. f,

Nov. 2S, 1944. E. scHMul-:D

4 BOMB CONTROLV MECHANISM Filed Sept. l18, 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l ll l l l Nov. 28, 1944. E. scHMUED BOMB CONTROLMECHANISM Filed Sept. 18,1939 14 Sheets-Sheet '6 Nov. 28, 1944.' E. scHMuED BOMB CONTROLMECHANISM Filed Sept. 18. 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 28, 1944. E,SCHMUED 2,363,750

BOMB CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 18, 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 28,1944. E. SCHMUED BOMB CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 18. 1939 14Sheets-Sheet 7 NOV. 28, 1944. E. SCHMUED y I BOMB CONTROL MECHANISM IFiled sept. `1a. 1939"v msheets-sheei 8 Nov. 28, 1944.

'l E SCHMUED BOMB CONTROL. MECHNISM Filed Sept. 18, 1939 144Sheets-Sheet 9 Nov. 28, 1944.- E, SCHMUED 2,363,750

BOMB CONTROL MEOHANISM y Filed sept. 18. 1939 14 sheets-sheet 10 Nov.28, 1944. E. scHMul-:D 2,363,750

. BOMB CONTROL MECHAN-ISM Filed sept. 1a, 1959 14 lsheaves-'sheet 11Nov. 28, 1944. ESCHMUED .v BOMB CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 18. 193914 Sheets-Sheet 12 l l n Nov. 28, 1944. a scHMUED 2,363,750

BOMB COTROL-MECHANISM Filed Sept. 18. 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 14Sheets-Sheet 14 E. SCHMUED BOMB CONTROL MECHANISM Filed sept. 18. 1959 vmm2@ um Nov. 2s, 1944.

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Patented Nov. 2S, 1944 .naar

FFHCE 2,363,750 BOMB CONTROL MECHANISM Edgar Schmued, Inglewood, Calif.,North American Aviation, Inc., Calif., a corporation of Delawareassigner to Inglewood,

Application September 18, 1939, Serial No. 295,405V A 1li Claims.

This invention relates generally to control mechanisms and moreparticularly to mechanisms for controlling the release of aerial bombsfrom given craft is less when the bombs are relatively large than whenthey are relatively small.

In many instances, it is desirable to drop bombs one at a time atdifferent targets, (or successively at the same target while repeatedlyiiying over it) On other occasions, it is desirable to discharge all thebombs substantially simultaneously in a Salvo at a single target. .Stillagain, emergencies sometimes arise making it desirable to drop theentire bomb load to lighten the aircraft. Under such circumstances, itis also usually desirable that the bombs be dropped in safe(nonexplosive) condition as distinct from armed condition, so that theywill effect minimum destruction where they hit.

Of course4 it is also essential that the possibility of accidentalrelease of bombs, or their release in such a way as to foul each other,be eliminated. Itis also desirable -that the manipulation required todischarge the ibombs in any of the manners specified be simplified asmuch as possible to avoid confusion in operation and mistakes due tohuman fauibiuty.

A general object of the present invention is to simplify the operationsthat must be manually performed to discharge the bombs from an airplaneand at the some time make 'the system as nearly proof against accidentalor improper release of the bombs, as is possible. Another object is toprovide a mechanism for automatically dropping bombs alternately fromracks on the left and right sides of a plane in re- -sponse to actuationof a single release control, thereby simplifying the operations to beperformed by the bombardier while maintaining the Another object is toprovide a control system for a plurality of bomb' racks, whereby bombswill be released one at a time in response to, successive operations ofa single control device by the bombardier until al1 the bombs in all theracks have been dropped.

Another object is to provide an emergency bomb-release system foraircraft, capable of workin g in conjunction with the regular controlsystem, but functioning to drop all the bombs in safe condition inresponse to manipulation of a single emergency control device.

Y ,nu

45 features of construction.

(Cl. Sil-1.5)

Still another object is to provide anemergency bomb-release mechanismfunctioning to discharge the bombs in safe condition without moving theregulator controls.

5 Another object is to provide, in an aircraft having a bomb compartmentnormally closed by a door, a door-opening mechanism and a bomb-releasemechanism so interlocked that the bombs cannotbe released unless thedoor is opened and the door cannot be closed unless the bomb-holdingmechanism is locked against release.

Another object oi the invention is to provide a bomb-release mechanismthat can be positively locked against release.

Another object is to provide, in connection with a. bomb rack formounting bombs in vertical tiers, a control mec that will insure againstdropping of any bomb until after the bombs there?. below have beendropped, thereby preventing fouling.

described in connection with the drawing.

A modern bombing plane may be equipped to carry two general types ofbombs, termed demolation and fragmentation, respectively., Demolationbombs are relatively large, usually weighing from 100 to 2,000 pounds,whereas the fragmentation bombs usually weigh from 25 to 100 pounds. Ithas become the practice to suspend these two types of bombs in twodiierent ways. The relatively small fragmentation bombs hang verticallysuspended from a ring at the tail. The

demolition bombs are suspended horizontally from two'lugs near the frontand rear ends, respectively, of the bomb. Inviewof the diierent modes ofsuspension for demolition and fragmenv4o tation bombs, respectively,diierent release mechanisms are required for the two types. However,both types may be used on a single airplane, with their controls more orless inter-related; andthe release mechanisms for each type have commonsystem for a single plane, for both demolition will now be describedwith reference to the drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic layout in a vertical longitudinal plane throughthe fuselage of an air plane disclosing a general arrangement of bombracks that may be employed in accordance with :iY the invention, andshowing the general arrange- Therefore a complete including Vequipmentand fragmentation vbombs,`n

Iment of control rods, cords, etc. extending XVII-XVII f i plane XX-Emechanism;

the bomb racks in the aircraft;

Fig. 2 is to the points of manual control bottom of the demolition bombcompartment;

Fig. 3 is a skeleton view, showing a portion of I lition bomb rack; Y vFig. is a. skeleton view, taken in a transversev arrow X in Fig. 9; ,j

Fig. 11 is a skeleton view, similar to Fig. 10,

Figs. 12a, 12b and. 12e' `section views taken in the planes A-A, B-B andC-C, respectively, of Fig. 12, showing the relative positions ofdifferent cam elements of.

the mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a view of the same mechanism shown in Fig. 12, looking at theright side 'of .Fig 12;

Fig. 14 is a detail elevational View of-a locking bar shown in Fig. 13,Fig. 14 being taken in the direction from right to left in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional \view taken in the plane XV-XV of Fig.13;

Fig. 16 is a detail elevational view of the mechanism shown in the-upperportion of Fig. 15,. Fig. 16 being taken looking from right to left inFig. 15;

Fig.. 1 7 .is a cross section taken in the plane Fig. 12 g L Fig. 18 isa cross section taken in the plane XVIII-XVIII of Figs. 12 and 15;

Fig. 19 lis a cross section taken in the plane XIX-XIX ofFlgs. 12 vand15; A

Fig. 20 is a detail cross section of Figs. 12 and 15; Y

Fig. 21 is a plan view of the emergency release mechanism for thedemolition bomb rack;

Fig. 22 is a side elevational view of the same taken in the Fig; 23 is abroken plan view of the samemechanism to t'ter illustrate some of theinterior details thereof;

Fig. 24 is a skeleton view in elevation of certain elements of theemergency release mechanism,' i

from

detail view, taken inthe planel v4d) a bombing airplane.

are detail horizontal .60 IUI, .these doors 75 vided.

Fig. 25 is a. skeleton viewof certain parts of the emergency releasemechanism. vin general similar to Fig. 24, butvshowing certain of thejfiartsin different positions; i g

5 Fig. 26 is a plan sectional view of the emergency release mechanismshown in Fig. 23,. the

section being taken on line XXVI-XXVI o1 Fig.

Figs. 2.7, '28, 29 and .30 are skeleton views l0 showing certainelements of the release mechanism, the four views being takenapproximately in the planes -IQIVIL XXVIII v)HHK-XXIX, and XXX-m,respectively, of Figs. 23 and 26; 15 Fig. 31 is a plan view. of one ofthe fragmenta- .tion bomb racks;

^ Fig. 32.:l isa side elevation of one of the units of the bomb rackshown in Fig. 31;

V33 is an'n'd elevation view of the unit 20 shown in side elevation inFig. 3l, the view being taken from the left end of Fig. 31; 1

Fig. 34 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the mechanism shownin Fig. 32,'the -view being taken in side elevation similar to Fig. 32;

Fig. 35 is a skeleton view in vertical section of certain of theelements shown in-Fig. 34;

Fig.. 36 is a detail vertical section taken in the plane XXXVI-XXXVI ofFig. 34;

Fig. 37 is a side elevation view of the solenoid.

30 mechanism, taken approximately in the plane II-XXXVI I of Fig. 31;

Fig. 38 is a detail sectional view, taken-in the plane XXXVIII- and Fig.39 is a cross sectional elevation taken on line IQIXIX-XXXIX of Fig. 26.

Referring rst to 1, the dotted line |00 represents the general outlinein longitudinal section of the walls of a of Figs. 31 and37;

. 'Ihis planev is equipped with a demolition comb rack IBI positionedadjacent the load center of the airplane and with two fragmentation bombracks closed doors I 05-which swing open under the' operated doors 1nFig. 2, where doors |06 will be described 'later- Y Separate controlsarel provided for the fragmentation andthe demolition bomb racks,-recontrols |68, |09, LIU andIII are provided for the demolition-bombs,and three controls H2, II3 and II4 are provided for the fragmentationbombs. In addition, a. pair of emergency controls II5 and H6, usuallypositioned in different parts portion of the fuselage of i of theairplane, are provReferring rst to the controls for the demolitionbombs, the control comprises ahandle movable progressively through threepositions and connected by a control rod |I8 to the demolition bombracks |0|. The three positions of the lever are identified as Lock,'Sel" and Salvof When the lever is in Lock position, the demolition bombs4are locked against any possible release. When lever ||1 is in thecenter or Sel (meaning selective) position, the bomb rack |0| isconditioned to drop bombs one at a time in response to actuation ofcontrol which consists of an electric switch. When control lever ||l ismoved into Salvo position, all of the demolition bombsl are dropped oneafter the other in rapid succession.

The control |09 includes a lever ||9 movable between a closed positionand an open posi-V tion. This lever actuates a rod |20 which actuates avalve |2|| controlling flow of fluid under pressure to a hydraulicallyactuated mechanism for opening and closing the doors |06. Movement oflthe lever |89 into open position opens the doors |06 .and movement ofthe lever back into closed position closes the doors.

Control |00 includes a lever I2| movable between a safe and an armedposition. This lever is connected through a rod |22 with a mechanisminthe demolition bomb rack which renders the bombs either safe so thatthey do not explode when dropped, or armed" so that they do explode whendropped.

All three of the control rods H8, |20 and cessively in the order namedso as to first openV the doors |06, safe the bombs to prevent them fromexploding whenV dropped, and then drop them all. y

The controls for the fragmentation bombs are similar to `'thosedescribedl for the demolition bombs, except'that the door control isomitted.-

since the doors |05 on the fragmentation bomb chutes are spring closed,and open and close automatically. Thus the control ||3 comprises a lever|24 movable through a Lock, a Sel,

and a Salvo position, and connected by a rod |25 extending through anemergency release mechanism |26 to the fragmentation bomb racks in boththe forward bay |02 and the rear bay |03. When this lever |24 is in Lockposition all the bombs in the fragmentation racks are positively lockedagainst release. When lever |24 is in Sel" position, the bombs may bedischarged one at a. time in response to consecutive closure of theswitch I4. When the lever |24 is moved into Salvo position, all of thefragmentation bombs Xare automatically released in rapid succession.

vThe control ||2 is the arming control and in-v cludes .a lever |21movable between an armed position and a safe positionand connected toein a control rod Vv|28 extending through the emergency releasemechanism |26 to the bomb racks |02 and |03. T his functions exactly thesame as the control |08, previously described. i

The emergency release mechanism |26 includes a lever |29 connected by acable |30 to the lever |24 of the demolition bomb emergency controlmechanism so that when the latter is actuated the fragmentationemergency release mechanism |26 is also actuated to safe thefragmentation bombs and then dump them all.

The demolition bomb control switch functions to complete a circuit froma source of current I 32 to a conductor |33 extending to the demolitionbomb rack |0|, where it connects with a solenoid to be described later.The switch ||4 serves to apply current from the source |32 to aconductor |34, which connects through a switchA |35 either to aconductor |36 extending to a solenoid (not shown in Fig. 1) in therearfragmentation Vbomb rackm|03 or through a conductor |31 to a solenoid inthe forward fragmentation bomb rack |02.

The general assembly having been briefly outlined with reference to Fig.l, various portions of As has been previously indicated, the doors |06below the demolition bomb bay, may be opened and closed by suitablehydraulic motors, the fluid supply to which is controlled by the valve|21 I. The particular motor and valve system employed does notconstitute a part of the present invention, and such devices arewell-known in the art; hence they will not be described herein. Suice itto say that longitudinal movement of the rear end of control rod|20functions to swing the lower end of` a lever |40, fulcrumedintermediate its ends and connected at its upper end In this system, itis essential to prevent any possibility of bombs being released from therack in the bay |0| unless the doors |06 are in open position. To thisend, I provide two interloclss between the bomb-releasemechanism, andthe door-control mechanism. One of these interlocks prevents movement`ofthe release rod I8 out of locked position unless -the doors |06 are openand the other interlock prevents movement of the door-control rod |20into position to close the `doors |06 unless the release rod ||8 hasbeen returned to locked position.

The mechanism for preventing movement of the release bar ||8 out oflocked position until the doors |06 have been opened, Awill now bedescribed with reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 -Referring first to Fig. 2,one of the doors |06 has pivotally connected thereto at a point |45 oneend of a rod |46, -the other end of which is connected to the outer endof a crank |41 pivotally mounted for rotation about an This rod |46 ispositioned directly.

position. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show; the position of o the mechanism whenthe doorsare closed' and it will be observed that the bolt isenteredinto the hole |51 in the arm |58, thereby preventing movement of thelatter out of locked position. The bolt ls yieldably retained in lockedposition by a return spring |59.

When the doors are opened, the rod |46 swings to the right (withreference to Fig. 3), and the left end of the rod moves rst forwardlyand then downwardly as the crank |41 rotates about its axis |48.position, the end of the crank |41 and the'left end of the rod |46 aremoving almost directly so that the latter can thereafter be moved out oflocked position either by manipulation of the control I'I0 (Fig. A1) orof the emergency release mechanism |23 in a manner to be describedlater.

The otherf interlock on the door mechanism, namely thatA for preventingclosure of the doors unless the release mechanism has been moved intolocked position, will be explained with reference to the perspectiveview of Fig. 5, in which it Will be observed that the door control rod|20 is 'connected to the lower end of the lever |40 fulcrumedintermediate its ends on a cross shaft I6I. The upper end of the lever|40 is connected, as previously described, to the control rod |4|extending to the valve |2| controlling the hydraulic door-opening andclosing mechanism. It will be suilcient at this point to state that whenthe rod |4| is moved to the left the doors are closed and When it ismoved to the right, the doors are opened. When the doors have beenopened, by movement of the rod |4| to the right in the manner described,the next step toward release of a bomb or bombs is to move the releasecontrol out of locked position into either selective or As the doorapproaches fully openv Demolition bomb racks and control mechanismtherefor As has been previously explained, the mechanism within thedemolition bomb rack |0| is under the control of tlie rods I|8 and |22,which extend therefrom to the control mechanism |08 and the releasecontrol mechanism I0 and under the control of the electric circuit- |33extending to the firing switch I The actual construction of thedemolition bomb rack and the mechanisms responsive to the rods |I8, |22and the circuit |33, will now be described with particular reference toFigs. 2, and 6 to 20, inclusive.

As shown. in Fig. 2, the demolition bombs "l5 are positionedhorizontally fore and aft of the airplane and positioned in twosubstantially vertical tiers on opposite sides of the fuselage. Themechanisms on ,each side of the craft, as shown in Fig. 2, areidentical.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, it will be observed that the bomb rack onthe right side of the fuselage comprises a pair of vertical framemembers I and 2, respectively, having mounted thereon sturdy hooks l1and 16, respectively,-Which hooks engage the opposite ends of bombshackles 18, which shackles in turn are releasably secured to the bombsl5. The construction of the bomb Salvo position. Movement of the releasecontrol out of locked position causes the control rod lI I8 (Figs. l and5), to be moved to the left. Although rod |I8 extends past thevalvemechanism I2I| to the demolition bomb rack |0| (Fig. 1), it is linked toa bellcrank lever |62 also fulcrumed on the cross shaft IBI, which leverfollows all movements 'of the rod IIS. Any movement of the rod ||8 totheleft out of locked position rotates the bellcrank lever |62 which inturn is connected to a rod |63 connected to a second belicrank lever |64which communicates motion of lever |62 to a lock bolt |65 slidablymounted in a journal |66 for movement toward and away from'the lever|40. When the doors are in open position, the lever |40 has a hole IG'I-therein aligned with the bolt and any movement of the release rod |I8away from locked position causes the bolt |65 to b'e moved into the hole|61', thereby preventing movement of the valve-control rod |4| intoposition to close the doors. It follows that after the doors have oncebeen opened they cannot be released until and unless the bomb-releasecontrol has been moved into locked position, thereby positivelypreventing any release of a bomb from the demolition bomb rack while thedoors thereunder are in closed position.. Of

shackles 18 does not constitute a part of the present invention and willtherefore not be described in detail. Sulce it to say that the shacklehas as part of its essential structurea Vrelease arm 'I9 and an armingarm 80. When the release arm 19 is rotated through a small larc in acounterclockwise direction (with reference to Fig. 6), a mechanismwithin the shackle 18 is actuated to release-the bomb so. that it dropsclear of the shackle '|8. I

The function of the arming arm 80 is to determine whether the bomb shall-be dropped in armed condition so that it will explode, or in safeVcondition so that it will not explode. The particular type of bombshown in Fig. 6 is provided with both nose and tail fuses and a wire 8|extends from these fuses and connects to a ring 82 (Fig. v8) which isreleasably attached tothe bomb Ashackle I8 under the control .of the arm80.

When the arm 80 is inthe position shown in Fig. 6, it is in safe`position, in which the ring 82 will be released from the shackleinresponse to a slight pull. Therefore if the bomb is dropped while thearm 80 is in safe position, the ring 82 course movement of the releasemechanism back into locked position, moves the rod |A|8 (Fig. 5)

to the right and retracts the bolt |65 from the will pull away from theshackle and drop with the bomb; likewise, the Wire 8| will not be pulledaway from the nose" and tail fuses and the latter will notbeaconditioned to explode the bomb. On

the other hand, if, prior to-the dropping of the bomb,lthe arm 80 ismoved clockwise (with respect to Fig. 6) through a small arc, amechanism within the shackle 'I8 is conditioned to positively retainthe-fuse ring 82 (Fig. 8) so that when the bomb is dropped the wire 8|is pulled away from the nose and tail fuses. This pulling away of thewire conditions the fuses so thatthey will detonate the bomb in adesired manner either after 'a predetermined lapse ,of time or uponimpact.

As previously stated, the present invention does not reside in thespecific construction ofthe bomb or the bomb shackle described, but onlyin the mechanism which cooperates with such of the bomb. In connectionwith the bomb shackle, it nee'd only be remembered that so long as therelease arm I9 is in clockwise position the are disclosed, the uppermostmechanism includbomb is locked against release and so long as the armingarm 89 is in left position the bomb is in safe condition so that it willnot explode if dropped.

There are mounted on the bomb racks intermediate the vertical framemembers I and 2, a pair of actuating arms 93 and 84, respectively, whichactuate the arms 19 and 8D, respectively. These arms 83 and 94 havefingers 85 which engage the ball ends of the arms 19V and 80,irrespective of the exact positions of the latter, which vary accordingto the dimensions of the bomb supported thereby. Thus it will beobserved from Fig. 7-that the bomb shackles 18 extend outwardly anddownwardly at an angle from the suspending hooks'lt and 11 and thelarger the bomb, the more nearly horizontally the shackles 18 extend.The fingers 85 provide for a sub'- stantial exibility in this respect,while preserving the operating connection between the arm 19 and the arm93, and between the arm 80 and the arm 94.

Each of the arms 84 is fixed on a shaft 81 which is rotatably mountedandV has an arm 89 thereon connected by a rod,89 to a bellcrank lever90, the other arm of which is pivotally connected to a verticallyextending control rod 9|.

The control rod 9| extends vertically the full height of the rack andconnects to the bellcrank lever 90 associated with each pair of bombs onthat side of the rack. A similar mechanism is positioned on the oppositeside of the rack. Thus referring to Fig. 11, which is a View lookingaft, the rod 9| is on the right side of the fuselage and a similar rod9| is on the left side of the fuselage and associated with the bombs onthe left side. It is desired to actuate all of the arming controls onall of the bombs on both sides of the rack simultaneously and to thisend the two rods 9| and 9| (Fig. 11) are interconnected for si-vmultaneous movement through bellcrank levers 92 and 93 and overheadinterconnecting rod 94.

however, in addition to having an arm connected to the rod 9i and an armconnected to the overhead rod 94, has a third arm connected to a rod 95which is connected through a pivotally moved forwardly, thereby raisingthe links 91 and 95 (Fig. 11) and lowering the rods 9| and 9|', whichplaces all of the arms 84 (Fig. 6) in safe position. However, when thearming lever I2I in Fig. 1 is moved forwardly into armed position, therod |22 is moved rearwardly, thereby pulling the rods 91 and 95 (Fig.11) downwardly and lifting the rods 9| and 9|' (Fig. 6) which shifts thebellcrank lever 90 andthe link 89 to move the arms 84 into armedposition.

Referring again for the moment to Fig. 6, the release control arm 83 ismounted for' rotation with a shaft 6 having an arm 9 thereon which isactuated by a mechanism to be described under the ultimate control ofthe release mechanism III) and switch III (Fig. 1) previously referredto.

Thus referring to Fig. 12 the mechanisms for actuating three verticallydisposed bomb shackles ing the shaft 6, previously described, the nextone below having a similar shaft 1, and the one below that having asimilar shaft 8. These shafts 6, 1 and 8' are rotatably supported onthree cross members 3, 4 and 5, respectively, which extend between thevertical frame members I and 2. Also each of the shafts 5, 'l and 8 hasa crank 9 thereon for oscillating the same. Each of the cranks 9 isactuated between the position shown in full lines and that shown indotted lines in Fig. 12, by a tie rod I0 which is pivotally connected atits left end to the associated crank 9 and extends through an apertureprovided therefor in the frame member 2 where it is pivotally connectedby a pin II (Fig. 715) to the upper end of a cooking lever I2, the lowerend of which is pivotally supported from the frame 2 by a pin I3.

Each tie rod I0 is constantly yieldably urged to the left by a coilspring I4 (Figs. 12 and 15) surrounding the rod and compressed between ashoulder l5 near the left end of the rod and a spring seat I6 mounted inthe aperture in the frame 2 through which the rod I0 extends.

Although the tie rod I 0 may be constructed in many different ways, asimple and desirable construction is shown in the detailed View of Fig.17'. Thus it will be observed from Fig. 17 that the tie rod IIJcomprises an inner member Illa having the shoulder I5 thereon, and anouter member IIIc having a fiange I 0d, which rests against the rightface of the shoulder I5 and receives the spring I4. The pressure of thespring holds the ange Id against the shoulder I5, and the member Illc,which is of only slightly smaller diameter than the spring I4,fserves asa guide for the spring.

It will be observed from Fig. 12 that the spring I4 tends to urge thecrank 9 and associated shaft 6 into bomb-releasing position, but isrestrained from doing so under normal circumstances by a locking pawl I1(Fig. 15) which has a notch I8 defining a shoulder I9 which engages atip portion 20 on the upper end of the cocking-lever I2. The pawl I1 isconstantly yieldably urged downwardly into engagement with thecookinglever I2 by a torsion spring 2| which is wound around a pin 22 onwhich the pawl I1 is pivotally mounted. Y

The tie rod, cooking-lever and locking pawl structure described withparticular reference to the mechanism associated with the upper shaft 6(Fig. 12) is duplicated therebelow in the structures for controllingshafts 1 and 8, all of the cooking-levers and locking pawls being invertical alignment and mounted on the frame member 2,

which, as clearly shown in Fig. 1'7, is of channel section so that itcontains, to a certain extent, the cooking-levers and associatedmechanisms.

To normally positively retain all the locking pawls I1 in lowermostposition, in which they lock their associated cooking-levers I2 againstrelease, a vertically movable locking bar 23 (Fig. 13) is provided, thisbar'extending 'alongside the outer ends of the locking pawls I1 andhaving three slots 24, 25 and 26 therein, which receive pins 21 (Fig.`18) extndingffrom the three respective locking pawls I1. The locking bar23 may be madein various shapes, but in order to provide ample rigidity,it is desirable to make it of angle section, as shown in Fig. 18, theslots 24 25 and 26 being provided in one web thereof. This locking bar23 is guidingly supported against the pins 21 having nuts 28 thereon,but is movlocking pawls |1. Vertical movement of the bar 23 is effectedthrough alink 23a and a, lever 30 rotatably supported on the frame 2,the lever be- Y ing connected at its opposite end (Fig. 10)

through downwardly extending linkage rods 31 and 32 to one arm of abellcrank lever 32a, theother arm of which connects to the release rod 8(Fig. 1) extending forward 'to the control compartment. Therefore, bymoving the rod |18, the lock bar 23 is moved up or down.

l When the lock bar 23 is held in lowermost position, as shown in Fig.14, the upper ends of the three slots 24, 25 and 26 bear downwardlyagainst lthe pins 21 projecting from the three locking pawls I1 andpositively prevent upward movement lof the locking pawls and resultantrelease of the docking-levers l2. However, by moving the v locking bar23 upwardly a short distance insufcient to engage the lower end of anyof the slots 24, 25 and 26 with the pins 21, the locking pawls l1 areunlocked so that they can be lifted to release the cooking-levers I2 byan independent means, to be described later. This unlocked-position'ofthe bar 23 corresponds tothe Sel position of the control lever I|1 inFig. 1, and is employed when it is desired to release bombs one at atime at relatively long or irregularly spaced intervals. However, whenit is desired to release all of the bombs as nearly simultaneously as isfeasible, then the control 'lever ||1 is moved into Salvo position,which moves the bar 23 upwardly to the limit'of its travel, causing thelower ends of the slots therein to engage the pins 21 and positivelydiftthe locking pawls |1 to release the cooking-levers l2 and tie rods I0.However', release of the lower pawls prior to release of the upperpawls, is automatically taken care of under such circumstances by thefact that the slots 24, 25 and 26 are progressively shorter from top tobottom, so that the ,-pin `in the lower slot 26 is first lifted, thenthe pin associated with the slot 25, and, last, the pin associated withthe slot 24.` This automatically insures that when the bombs arereleased in a Salvo" by upward vmovement of the locking bar 23, thebombs in the lower tiers wlllJbe released before the bombs in the tiersthereabove are released, thereby preventing fouling of thebombs.

The mechanism shown in detail in Figs. 12, 13

, and 14 is associated with the right side of the demolition Ibomb rackas indicated by the arrow XII in Fig. 9. This mechanism appears on theleft side of the drawing in Fig. 9 because the top of the .sheetcor-responds to the' rear end of the bomb rack. As has been previouslydescribed,

able verticallyto lock,unlock, or release, the` downwardly in unison tosimultaneously either lock all the bomb mechanisms, place them all incondition for selective release, or release them ln Salva To selectivelyrelease the different locking .pawls one at a time, a solenoid-actuatedshaft (Fig. 12) is provided. This shaft 35 extends vertically alongsidethe frame member 2 and is guided for vertical movement by bearingmembers 36 which are secured vto the frame 2. Referring to Figs. 15 and19, each of these bearing members 36 comprises an outer sleeve member 31anchored by a bracket 38 and bolts 39 to the frame 2, which sleeve 31functions as an outer race cooperating with two annular rows of -ballbearings 39 and 4U. These ball bearings 39 andv 40 also contact an innersleeve 4| which is tightly tted on the shaft 35. Obviously the balls 39and 40 guide the shaft 35 for free rotary motion with respect to thesleeve 31. The balls 39 and 40 also guide the sleeve 4| and shaft 35 forrelatively free vertical movement within the sleeve 31. To this end theannular rows of ball bearings 39 and 40 are vertically .supported by aball cage 42 which is yieldably supported vertically by coil springs 43positioned thereabove and therebelow and compressed between the ballcage and stop members on the sleeve 31. The lower stop member may beformed by turning the lower end of sleeve 31 inwardly to constitute aange 44 and the upper stop means may be constituted by a ring 45 held inplace by a spring retainer ring 46 expanded into an annular groove inthe upper end of the sleeve 31. The springs 43 are relatively weak sothat while they serve to normally center the bearings 39 and 4D betweenthe ends of the sleeve 31, they readily yield and permit the balls- 39and 40 to roll vertically between the sleeves 31 and 4| in response tolimited vertical movement of the shaft 35.

The shaft 35 is provided with a plurality of segmental arms 50, 5| and52, (Figs. l2 and 13) rigidly attached thereto or formed integrally ltherewith. It is convenient to form the arms inbombs are hung'on eachside of the demolition y l bomb compartment (see Fig. 2) and themechanism for supporting and releasing the bombs on the left side of thebomb compartment (the right side of the drawing in Fig. 9) is identical-with that on the other side, described. Furthermore,

Vit is desirable to control the locking bars associated with the rackson both sides simultaneously in response to movement of the singlerelease rod ||8 (Figs. 1 and 10) To this end, the release tegrally withthe sleeves 4| which are tted tightly on the shaft 35 and preferablylockedI thereto by suitable set screws or rivets (not shown).

These arms 50, 5|'and -52 are so spaced along the shaft 35 that inthe-normal and lower position of the shaft 35 the different arms aresubstantially on a level with the different tie rods Ill and immediatelybelow the -levels of the lower edges of the associated locking pawls I1so that all the arms are normally out of contact with the locking pawls|1, but functionvto elevate the pawls when the shaft 35 is rotated intoposition to bring an arm below its associated locking pawl, and theshaft is then elevated.

The lowermost position of the shaft 35 is determined by an adjustablestop 54 (Fig. 12) on the frame 2, which stop contacts the extreme lowerend of the shaft 35.

. ually turning it.

bar 23 on the left side of the rack (the rig-ht side L of the drawing inFig. 10), has its link 23a connected to a lever |15 which in turn isconnected through a link |16 a bellcrank lever |11, a cross tie rod |18,a bellcrank lever |19 and a. link |811 to the lever 30 so that wheneverlever 30 is moved in response. to the movement ofthe release control rodI8 both of the lock bars 23 on. the right and left side of the .frameare mloved upwardly or In order to effect selective release of the threelocking pawls |1 (Fig. 15) one at a time in automatically predeterminedsequence so'as to actuate first the-lower shaft 8`(Fig. 12), then themiddle shaft 1, and last the upper shaft 6, the segmental arms 50, 5|and 52 are angularly displaced about the axis of the shaft 35 so that inany one position of rotation of the shaft only one of the arms ispositioned below its associated locking pawl l1.

Thus referring to Figs. 12-A, 12-B and 12C,

A handwheel 35a is provided on the'lower end of shaft 35 for'man-

